Bavarian Nordic Names Tarja Stenvall as New CEO

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, September 17, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Bavarian Nordic, a global vaccine company, has announced the appointment of Tarja Stenvall as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 15, 2026. Stenvall will succeed Paul Chaplin, whose departure was announced earlier this year.

Stenvall brings over two decades of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having held senior roles at Sanofi, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer. Her career has spanned various regions, including Europe, Latin America, and global markets, where she has been instrumental in driving sustainable growth and organizational transformation.

Anne Louise Eberhard, Chair of the Board of Directors, expressed her confidence in Stenvall, stating, "Following a comprehensive search, the Board is pleased to appoint Tarja Stenvall as new Chief Executive Officer of Bavarian Nordic. Tarja Stenvall brings a proven ability to scale and lead a global life science business, combining strategic vision with deep experience from the global pharma and vaccines industry and a passion for improving and protecting lives."

Stenvall's appointment comes at a pivotal time for Bavarian Nordic, as the company continues to build on its strong scientific foundation and global manufacturing and supply chain capabilities. The company is known for its leading position in vaccines, particularly in the areas of mpox and smallpox, and has a commitment to enhancing public health preparedness.

In her new role, Stenvall will lead an executive management team that includes: - Henrik Juuel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - Jean-Christophe May, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer - Russell Thirsk, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Stenvall commented on her appointment, saying, "The opportunity to join Bavarian Nordic is tremendously exciting. What attracted me to Bavarian Nordic is its unique combination of a strong scientific foundation, a proven global manufacturing and supply chain, and a commercial platform. The company has built a leading position in vaccines while remaining firmly committed to improving and protecting lives, making this a truly compelling opportunity."

Stenvall's career highlights include her role as Senior Vice President and Head of Global Franchise for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at Sanofi, where she oversaw a €10 billion franchise. Prior to this, she held several senior leadership positions at Sanofi, including roles in Key Markets in General Medicines, Europe, and Latin America, where she secured Sanofi's largest global private-public partnership.

Stenvall holds a degree in Economics from Aalto University (formerly the Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration) in Finland, and an MBA in International Business from the University of South Carolina in the US.

Bavarian Nordic's mission is to improve health and save lives through innovative vaccines. The company is a preferred supplier of mpox and smallpox vaccines to governments, contributing to public health preparedness. With a strong portfolio of travel vaccines, Bavarian Nordic continues to play a crucial role in global health.

The transition to Stenvall is expected to bring a fresh perspective and strategic direction to the company, as it looks to expand the global impact of its vaccines and strengthen its position as a leading global vaccine company.